Work Related Injuries in Children Working at a Waste Disposal Site in Nicaragua

Abstract

ISEE-760 Objective: To investigate the occurrence and pattern of injuries among children working at a waste disposal site in Managua, Nicaragua, and in referents from a nearby residential area with similar poor socioeconomic conditions. Materials and Methods: Children aged 6 to 15 years, working on an average since 3 years at the waste disposal site (n = 102), and referents (n = 101) were interviewed. Only injuries occurring during the last 12 months and causing at least 1 day of absence from work or from school are reported here. The risk of having an injury, as well as the incidence rates of work- and non-work–related injuries were estimated using logistic regression and Poisson regression, respectively. Classes of work-related injuries (injuries typology) were identified by applying a 2-step cluster analysis. Results: Sixty-six child workers and 20 referents reported at least 1 injury during the last 12 months (odds ratio 7.4; 95% CI 3.9–14). In total, 110 and 22 injuries, respectively, were reported. Among the child workers, most of the injuries occurred at the waste disposal site (n = 79; incidence rate of work related injuries 2.2 per 1000 person-days). The most common class of work-related injuries included open wounds, which affected feet or lower extremities, and they caused loss of work from 4 to 13 days (n = 27; 34%). Also, fractures or dislocations, which affected lower or upper extremities, and caused from 1 week up to 2 months of lost work (n = 9;11%) were observed. Moreover, 7 (9%) of the work-related injuries resulted in persisting functional impairment or pain, ie, approximately 0.07 per working year. Conclusions: The risk of having a work-related injury in these child workers is high, with direct impact on the child's present and future health status, school attendance, and on family income. Still our study most likely underestimates the true risk, because only presently active child workers were included.